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    Mississippi civic leaders tour Florida bases

    Mississippi civic leaders tour Florida bases

    Photo By Jessica Kendziorek | Mississippi Gulf Coast civic leaders toured Naval Air Station Key West, Homestead Air...... read more read more

    BILOXI, MS, UNITED STATES

    04.13.2018

    Story by Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek 

    403rd Wing Public Affairs

    Mississippi Gulf Coast civic leaders traveled with the 403rd Wing leadership to Naval Air Station Key West, Homestead Air Reserve Base and the National Hurricane Center in Florida during a civic leader tour, April 12-13.

    Civic leader tours are conducted to inform our local business owners and local leaders about the different missions conducted by the U.S. military.

    “This event is important in allowing key employers, business owners and community leaders a greater understanding of the training required of our service members and the integration of missions across the services," said Col. Robert J. Stanton, 403rd Wing vice commander. "It highlights how important the training is and how it serves in building the foundation for everything we do."

    After beginning their tour at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., where the civic leaders received briefings on the 403rd Wing’s and the 81st Training Wing’s missions, the group boarded a WC-130J Super Hercules, during a routine training flight, by a 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron crew. The 53rd WRS conducts weather data gathering missions into tropical storms, hurricanes and winter storms, which are tasked by the National Hurricane Center.

    After arriving at Naval Air Station Key West, they were briefed by a NAS search and rescue crew on their mission and were shown the various types of equipment used by the crew members. The civic leaders were also given a glimpse of the training it takes to keep the U.S. military fighter pilots proficient in tactical training.

    "It was great to see where our tax dollars go, and the training that is done," said Lamar Daley, Hancock Bank business banking manager. "As an American citizen we normally only see the end result. But this tour gave me a behind the scenes view of all of the work that goes into keeping our country safe."

    Naval Air Station Key West's national security mission supports operational and readiness requirements for Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, National Guard units, federal agencies, and allied forces. The station is equipped with a sophisticated Tactical Combat Training System, similar to the one depicted in the popular movie 'Top Gun', which tracks and records aerial maneuvers. In addition, NAS Key West is the host facility for numerous tenant activities, including Joint Interagency Task Force South, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Army Special Forces Underwater Training School.

    The next day the group traveled to Homestead Air Reserve Base, maintained and operated by the 482nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command organization. The 482nd FW is a fully combat-ready unit capable of providing F-16C and F-16D multi-purpose fighter aircraft, along with mission ready pilots and support personnel, for short-notice worldwide deployment. The wing has approximately 1,600 members, including more than 1,200 reservists, of which 260 are full-time reservists, in addition to 325 full-time civilians

    "With the lower number of active-duty forces, it is impressive to see how both the active duty and Reserve service members work together," said Mayor Andrew Gilich, City of Biloxi. "To see how the different missions from the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force work hand-in-hand helps in understanding how the separate military departments fit together and the kind of training it requires to maintain the caliber of training essential for the protection of our country."

    Before returning to Keesler AFB, the group made a final stop at the National Hurricane Center, Miami, where they received briefings on the different areas of responsibility of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a U.S. Department of Commerce organization, and how the 53rd WRS`s mission assists in helping forecast the tropical storms and hurricanes.

    "The complexity of the missions of our Hurricane Hunters and those defending our country is amazing. Seeing all the moving parts first hand has even further enhanced my appreciation for our active duty and Reserve service members - as well as the families and businesses that support them," said Mayor Billy Hewes, City of Gulfport. "The dedication of these men and women is immeasurable. They go about the business of serving our great country with the vast majority of those operations unseen to the public."

    At the completion of the tour, Stanton said that the tour was a success and that he hopes the leaders left with a greater understanding of how the unique mission of the 53rd WRS works in conjunction with NOAA and the NHC, as well as having a better grasp of how many different missions are accomplished throughout the U.S. military.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 04.13.2018
    Date Posted: 04.18.2018 11:05
    Story ID: 273508
    Location: BILOXI, MS, US

    Web Views: 47
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN